

Tilman Graff
PhD student, Economics, Harvard University
Tilman Graff is a PhD student in economics at Harvard University. His research focuses on macroeconomics in developing countries. In recent work, he seeks to understand the aggregate impact of frictions facing small and medium sized firms in Kenya, the determinants of involuntary entrepreneurship in Nigeria, and ways to efficiently design transport networks across the continent of Africa as well as the city of Jakarta. He holds an MPhil in Economics from Oxford.
Recent work by Tilman Graff
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How low demand constrains productivity and economic development
Evidence from Kenya shows that small firms have a lot of ‘slack’, i.e. they could produce substantially more output without having to hire additional workers, buy additional machines, or raise prices, simply by reducing their idle time. Why is slack ...
Published 06.01.25
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Do cash transfers cause inflation?
Evidence from cash transfers at scale in Kenya suggests that demand-side policies or stimulus may be very effective at raising output without creating inflationary pressure when there is a lot of ‘slack’ in the economy.
Published 06.01.25
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Designing a public transit network: Evidence from Jakarta, Indonesia
Examining the expansion of Jakarta’s bus system shows how simple improvements in public transport service quality can boost usage
Published 06.12.23